The National Board of Revenue during the just concluded student movement explained that the tuition fees are inclusive of VAT. The VAT was imposed on private university tuition fees with an aim to expand the scope of revenue collection.

North South University (NSU) and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) suspend classes and examinations till September 15 and September 27 respectively amid student protests against VAT on private universities’ tuition fees.

The anti-VAT protest that erupted on Wednesday produces a large number of messages in the form of handwritten placards and street paintings – both serious and humorous – pointing out the absurdity of imposing VAT on education.

Rejecting the government’s clarification over the 7.5 percent VAT on tuition fees, students from several private universities today warned that they would go for a tougher movement until the imposed VAT is withdrawn.

Some eminent citizens over a BBC programme have urged the government to lift VAT from private universities. The private universities, according to the relevant Act, are supposed to be run on a non-profit basis.

The proposed pay scale of public university teachers and the suggested VAT on private universities are two issues that have recently rocked the education sector of the country. In light of these issues, Upashana Salam and Naznin Tithi spoke to the incumbent chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Professor Abdul Mannan, and former chairman of the UGC, Professor Nazrul Islam, respectively, about ways that challenges faced in higher education can be meted.